abscissa

American  

[ab-sis-uh] / æbˈsɪs ə /

noun

Mathematics.

plural

abscissas, abscissae

1. (in plane Cartesian coordinates) the x-coordinate of a point: its distance from the y-axis measured parallel to the x-axis.

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abscissa British  

/ æbˈsɪsə /

noun

1. the horizontal or x -coordinate of a point in a two-dimensional system of Cartesian coordinates. It is the distance from the y -axis measured parallel to the x -axis Compare ordinate

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abscissa Scientific  

/ ăb-sĭs′ə /

plural

abscissas

1. The distance of a point from the y-axis on a graph in the Cartesian coordinate system. It is measured parallel to the x-axis. For example, a point having coordinates (2,3) has 2 as its abscissa.

2. Compare ordinate

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Etymology

Origin of abscissa

1690–1700; feminine of Latin abscissus (past participle of abscindere to abscind )

Compare meaning

How does abscissa compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• ordinate vs. abscissa

Example Sentences

The lowest ERK2 concentration at which the mass signal of the compound was still observed is shown on the abscissa.

From Nature • Apr. 22, 2018

The abscissa of such a curve is the reading of the instrument to be corrected.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 1 "Calhoun" to "Camoens" by Various

Corrected values for the turbidities obtained were plotted with the turbidity values on the ordinate and the antigen dilutions on the abscissa.

From Myology and Serology of the Avian Family Fringillidae A Taxonomic Study by Stallcup, William B.

The distance along the horizontal line—or the abscissa, as a mathematician would call it—represents the date.

From The Story of the Heavens by Ball, Robert S. (Robert Stawell), Sir

With such events the curve b'yb meets the abscissa at some point in each direction; though where this occurs can only be known by continually measuring dwarfs and giants.

From Logic Deductive and Inductive by Read, Carveth